Symantec today announced the availability of Norton Online Backup, a secured online backup service that automatically keeps files and digital assets safe and easily accessible.

Norton Online Backup makes it simple for people around the world to backup their digital photographs, critical financial documents, music collections and archived e-mail ? all from an easy-to-use Website. Up to five household computers can be safely backed up, managed and restored through a single, central, remotely-accessible account. Once a small desktop agent is downloaded and manages a backup of the PC, a Web browser is all that is required to restore or download previously backed up files from anywhere.

The software also provides quick access and restoration of lost or deleted files to any Web-enabled computer and conducts automatic backup during periods of inactivity or on a user-defined schedule. The available online storage capacity is 25 gigabytes (GB) of online storage. A data commpresssion offers fast transmissions.

Norton Online Backup is available now for purchase in the U.S. through the Symantec online store at www.symantecstore.com and it is planned to be available worldwide in the coming weeks.

The suggested retail price for Norton Online Backup is US$49.99 per year, which includes 25 GB of online storage to backup files from up to five family PCs. Additional storage space can be purchased in increments of 10, 25, 50 and 100 GB.